Category: Mixed Martial Arts

by Abhishek Shukla

ONE Championship And U-NEXT Announce Exclusive Partnership To Broadcast Live ONE Events In Japan

February 14, 2024 – Tokyo: U-NEXT, a video streaming service operated by USEN-NEXT GROUP, has announced an official broadcast partnership with ONE Championship, the world’s largest martial arts organization, to provide exclusive live and on-demand access to ONE’s blockbuster events to fans in Japan.

ONE Championship features world-class martial arts action across several combat sports disciplines including mixed martial arts (MMA), Muay Thai, kickboxing, and submission grappling. 

With flyweight kickboxing megastar Takeru, former ONE Lightweight MMA World Champion Shinya Aoki, former ONE Bantamweight Kickboxing World Champion Hiroki Akimoto, atomweight MMA contenders Itsuki Hirata and Ayaka Miura, and many more, U-NEXT will showcase the very best martial artists from not only Japan, but all across the globe.  

Programming will be available with both English and Japanese commentary.

Chatri Sityodtong, Chairman and CEO of ONE Championship, stated: “ONE is honored to kick off this partnership with U-NEXT, one of Japan’s hottest platforms for live sports content. Bringing ONE back to Tokyo last month allowed us to once again feel the deep-rooted passion for martial arts in the region. Through this partnership with U-NEXT, we can’t wait to continue delivering world-class martial arts action to all of our fans in Japan.” 

Tenshin Tsutsumi, President and CEO of U-NEXT, stated: “We are delighted to announce that the world’s largest martial arts organization, ONE Championship, with millions of passionate fans in over 190 countries worldwide, is now our exclusive partner in Japan. U-NEXT strives to provide our beloved Japanese athletes a global platform to showcase their skills and share their incredible stories. ONE Championship is known for its thrilling live events, and the organization features a plethora of Japanese martial artists who compete on the world stage. We are committed to closely collaborating with ONE and bringing our heroes close to the fans. Please stay tuned for more exciting developments.”

by Abhishek Shukla

PAIR OF NUMBER ONE CONTENDER FIGHTS ADDED TO BELLATOR CHAMPIONS SERIES BELFAST ON MARCH 22

NEW YORK (February 13, 2024) – The Professional Fighters League (PFL), the fastest growing and most innovative sports league, today announced seven additional action-packed matchups for the debut of Bellator Champions Series Belfast including two clashes between number one contenders on Friday, March 22 at The SSE Arena, Belfast in Belfast, Northern Ireland.

The first battle of number one contenders takes place in the Middleweight division when England’s gifted southpaw striker Fabian Edwards (12-3), will look to use his power to neutralize Canada’s Aaron Jeffery’s (14-4) relentless ground and grappling game. Featherweight number one contenders collide when Ireland’s submission machine James Gallagher (12-2) faces Canada’s jiu-jitsu standout Jeremy Kennedy (19-3) in what will be a battle of wit and stamina. Rounding out the five-fight main card will be a Lightweight fight featuring England’s Tim Wilde (17-4-1) versus undefeated PFL Challengers Series veteran Manoel Sousa (10-0).

The debut Bellator Champions Series Belfast event on March 22 is anchored by a battle for the vacant Bellator Light Heavyweight World Championship pitting former title challenger Corey Anderson (17-6, 1 NC) against Northern Ireland’s Karl Moore (12-2), and co-main evented by a Women’s Featherweight rematch between Belfast’s Leah McCourt (8-3) and Dublin’s Sinead Kavanagh (9-6).

The card can be seen live in the U.K. on DAZN beginning at 5 pm GMT / 12 pm ET, additional distribution information including a U.S. broadcast partner will be announced in coming weeks.

The preliminary portion of the event is also beginning to take shape, with the news that homegrown Bellator prospect Ciaran Clarke (8-0) will try to remain undefeated against Darius Mafi (4-1) at 135-pounds, former Bellator Lightweight World Grand Prix quarterfinalist Tofiq Musayev (21-5) tangles with London Shootfighters standout Alfie Davis (16-4-1) at Lightweight, Bellator and PFL veteran Nathan Kelly (9-2) of SBG Ireland goes up against India’s Vikas Singh Ruhil (12-7) at Featherweight, and finally undefeated Heavyweights collide when Abraham Bably (3-0) goes toe-to-toe with Isaiah Pinson (3-0).

Updated Bellator Champions Series Belfast Main Card

Light Heavyweight World Title Bout: Corey Anderson (17-6, 1 NC) vs. Karl Moore (12-2)

Women’s Featherweight Co-Main Event: Leah McCourt (8-3) vs. Sinead Kavanagh (9-6)

Middleweight No. 1 Contender Bout: Fabian Edwards (12-3) vs. Aaron Jeffery (14-4)

Featherweight No. 1 Contender Bout: Jeremy Kennedy (19-3) vs James Gallagher (12-2)

Lightweight Main Card Bout: Tim Wilde (17-4-1) vs. Manoel Sousa (10-0)

Preliminary Card:

Bantamweight Preliminary Bout: Ciaran Clarke (8-0) vs. Darius Mafi (4-1)

Lightweight Preliminary Bout: Tofiq Musayev (21-5) Alfie Davis (16-4-1)

Featherweight Preliminary Bout: Nathan Kelly (9-2) vs.Vikas Singh Ruhil (12-7)

Heavyweight Preliminary Bout: Abraham Bably (3-0) vs. Isaiah Pinson (3-0)
 

Tickets for Bellator Champions Series in Belfast are available now beginning at ticketmaster.ie. Doors for Bellator 302 open at 4 pm local time, with the first preliminary bout taking place one hour later at 5 pm.

Prior to the Professional Fighter’s Leagues industry shaping acquisition of Bellator in November of 2023, Bellator held 301 events building a recognized worldwide roster of elite talent. In re-imagining Bellator the PFL will continue the commitment of investing in athletes from underserved regions while continuing to add global stars to the roster.

PFL is the only organization in MMA with the sports-season format, where individual fighters compete in a regular season, playoffs, and championship each year. The combined roster of PFL and Bellator boasts 30% of its fighters independently world-ranked in the top 25 of their respective weight-class, the same percentage as UFC. PFL has an expansive global vision for the sport and is building the “Champions League of MMA” with PFL Europe, PFL MENA, and more international leagues in development. PFL leads in technology and innovation, with its proprietary PFL SmartCage, powering fight analytics, real-time betting, AI scoring, and a next- generation viewing experience. PFL is primetime on ESPN/ESPN+ in the U.S. and is broadcast and streamed in 150 countries with 20 premium media distribution partners.

by Abhishek Shukla

PROFESSIONAL FIGHTERS LEAGUE EXPANDS PARTNERSHIP WITH TORNEOS AND DIRECTV FOR LATIN AMERICA 

NEW YORK (February 12, 2024) – The Professional Fighters League (PFL), the fastest growing and most innovative sports league, today announced an expanded multi-year partnership with Torneos, a leading company in generating sports related content. Under the deal, DIRECTV will continue to serve as the exclusive PFL media partner in Latin America.

The agreement features exclusive programming including the 2024 PFL Global Regular Season, Bellator Champions Series, PFL Europe, PFL MENA, and all PFL and Bellator archival content on the ‘DSPORTS FIGHT’ channel in Latin America (615/1615 HD of DIRECTV´s programming grid and DGO, the streaming platform), excluding Brazil and Mexico.

“The Professional Fighters League is proud to expand our partnership with Torneos and DIRECTV, our exclusive media partner in Latin America,” said PFL CEO Peter Murray. “As the PFL continues to grow globally, DSPORTS FIGHT will serve as the dedicated channel for PFL and Bellator content in the region.”

“We are thrilled to expand our partnership with PFL and continue bringing to Latin America first-class fighting events and content,” added Santiago Sluzewski Monti, Regional Rights and Commercial Director of Torneos.

Furthermore, Hernán Bidegain, director of Original Content and Programming at DSPORTS, commented: “The variety of content is one of the main characteristics that differentiates our exclusive sports signal. This strategic alliance allows us to further expand our combat sports offering, that is having more followers in the region.”

Notably, Argentina’s own, Laureano “Pepi” Staropoli, will compete in the PFL 2024 Global Season as a Welterweight. Pepi was victorious in his PFL debut, a showcase bout at PFL Paris in September 2023.

PFL is the only organization in MMA with the sports-season format, where individual fighters compete in a regular season, playoffs, and championship each year. The combined roster of PFL and Bellator boasts 30% of its fighters independently world-ranked in the top 25 of their respective weight class, the same percentage as UFC. PFL has an expansive global vision for the sport and is building the “Champions League of MMA” with PFL Europe, PFL MENA, and more international leagues in development. PFL leads in technology and innovation, with its proprietary PFL SmartCage, powering fight analytics, real-time betting, AI scoring, and a next-generation viewing experience. PFL is primetime on ESPN/ESPN+ in the U.S. and is broadcast and streamed in 150 countries with 20 premium media distribution partners.

by Abhishek Shukla

RIYADH SEASON ANNOUNCES PFL CHAMPIONS VS. BELLATOR CHAMPIONS TICKETS ON SALE TODAY

RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA (FEBRUARY 11, 2024) – The Professional Fighters League (PFL) and Riyadh Season have announced tickets for the first-ever mega MMA event of the year, PFL Champions vs. Bellator Champions that will be held on 24 February are available now. Tickets for PFL Champions vs. Bellator Champions can be booked through the WeBook.com website and application through the link: https://webook.com/en/events/champs-vs-champs-boxing-tickets

The PFL Champions vs. Bellator Champions weigh-ins will take place at The Kingdom Arena on the 23 February at 6 pm KSA time.

Emanating live from Saudi Arabia, an emerging hotspot for global sporting events, PFL Champions vs. Bellator Champions is an unprecedented fight card that will feature World Champions and the biggest names in combat sports going head to head in the PFL SmartCage. The event will take place at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh.

Headlining the card will be a battle between Heavyweight titleholders, as PFL Heavyweight Champion, Renan Ferreira meets Bellator Heavyweight Champion, Ryan Bader. PFL Light Heavyweight Champion, Impa Kasanganay, who will fight at 185-pounds takes on Bellator Middleweight Champion, Johnny Eblen. Two-time PFL Champion Ray Cooper III faces Bellator Welterweight Champion, Jason Jackson, and in the featherweight action, PFL Champion Jesus Pinedo meets Bellator Champion Patricio Pitbull.

The card will also feature the first-ever female MMA fight in Riyadh in which two-time Olympic Gold Medalist and women’s boxing champion Claressa Shields takes on Kelsey DeSantis in a Women’s Lightweight bout. PFL Champions vs Bellator Champions will also see Muhammad Ali’s grandson, Biaggio Ali Walsh, make his professional MMA debut. Other notable fighters on the card are Saudi Arabia’s own Abdullah Al-Qahtani, Thiago Santos, Yoel Romero, Clay Collard, AJ McKee, Aaron Pico, and many more.

The inaugural PFL PPV Super Fight event will be available on ESPN+ PPV and DAZN beginning at 3 pm ET. In addition, three major showcase bouts will take place during the preliminary card airing in the U.S. on ESPNEWS and ESPN+ in the U.S. beginning at 12 pm ET.

PFL is the only organization in MMA with a sports-season format, where individual fighters compete in a regular season, playoffs, and championship each year. The combined roster of PFL and Bellator boasts 30% of its fighters independently world-ranked in the top 25 of their respective weight class, the same percentage as UFC. PFL has an expansive global vision for the sport and is building the “Champions League of MMA” with PFL Europe, PFL MENA, and more international leagues in development. PFL leads in technology and innovation, with its proprietary PFL SmartCage, powering fight analytics, real-time betting, AI scoring, and a next-generation viewing experience. PFL is primetime on ESPN/ESPN+ in the U.S. and is broadcast and streamed in 150 countries with 20 premium media distribution partners.

Riyadh Season attracts people from all over the world to experience a wide range of international martial arts and boxing events. It also offers various entertainment options and international experiences. During the winter months, visitors can enjoy thousands of concerts, exhibitions, and other events in Riyadh. This unique entertainment includes participation from celebrities and well-known brands. 

by Abhishek Shukla

PROFESSIONAL FIGHTERS LEAGUE LAUNCHES NEW BELLATOR MMA CHAMPIONS SERIES FOLLOWING MAJOR ACQUISITION

NEW YORK (February 5, 2024) – The Professional Fighters League (PFL), the fastest-growing and most innovative sports league, after their industry shaping acquisition of Bellator, has announced the first of eight Bellator Champions Series events will kick off in Belfast, Northern Ireland on Friday March 22 at The SSE Arena, Belfast. 

Bellator Champions Series events will take place in top MMA growth markets around the world, featuring world title fights and world ranked fighters on each card. The reimagined Bellator Champions Series is part of a landmark agreement between PFL and DAZN. Beginning with Bellator 302 on March 22 on DAZN fans will be able to watch Bellator Champions Series events at prime times in the UK, Italy, Portugal, Belgium, France and other European markets. 

“After the landmark acquisition of Bellator, the Professional Fighters League is excited to officially announce a new era of MMA with the launch of the ‘Bellator Champions Series’ global franchise,” said PFL CEO Peter Murray. “The Bellator Champions Series” will feature reigning Bellator Champion fighters defending their titles against the best fighters in the world from the start studded Bellator roster.  Fans will have access to the best competition and the most innovate formats in MMA distributed by leaders in sport including DAZN.”

“The growth in popularity of MMA is being matched by the innovation and promotion that DAZN is delivering in partnership with the Professional Fighters League.” Pete Oliver, CEO of Growth Markets for DAZN said. “The Bellator Champions Series is another example of DAZN delivering fantastic matchups, where the best take on the best, and what promises to be some of the best fight nights in the sport for DAZN’s customers. All delivered by our award-winning app, which is widely available across smart and internet enabled devices, through a broad range of distribution partnerships, and with a variety of flexible and accessible price points.”

Bellator Champions Series kicks off with Bellator 302, headlined by a battle for the vacant Bellator Light Heavyweight World Championship between Corey “Overtime” Anderson (17-6, 1 NC) and Belfast’s own Karl Moore (12-2). In addition, Belfast’s Leah McCourt (8-3) faces Sinead Kavanagh (9-6) in a 2022 rematch.

“The PFL is excited to kick off the new Bellator Champions Series this March in Belfast,” said James Frewin, SVP International at PFL. “Along with our great partner DAZN we look forward to giving MMA fans a premium experience through the PFL’s eight Bellator Champions Series events.” 

Tickets for Bellator Champions Series in Belfast will be available via special pre-sale beginning Wednesday, February 6, with a general on-sale of Thursday, February 7 at ticketmaster.ie. Doors for Bellator 302 open at 4 pm local time, with the first preliminary bout taking place one hour later at 5 pm. 

Additional distribution information including a U.S. broadcast partner will be announced in coming weeks.

Prior to the Professional Fighter’s Leagues industry shaping acquisition of Bellator in November of 2023, Bellator held 301 events building a recognized worldwide roster of elite talent. In re-imagining Bellator the PFL will continue the commitment of investing in athletes from underserved regions while continuing to add global stars to the roster.

Bellator 302 Main Event & Co-Main Event:

Light Heavyweight World Title Bout: Corey Anderson (17-6, 1 NC) vs. Karl Moore (12-2)

 Women’s Featherweight Co-Main Event: Leah McCourt (8-3) vs. Sinead Kavanagh (9-6)

Corey Anderson signed with Bellator in 2020 and made an immediate impact on the 205-pound division. The Rockton, Ill. native most recently defeated former champion Phil Davis and now will enter his matchup at Bellator 302 with his sights set on capturing the thus far elusive Light Heavyweight Championship. Standing across form him will be Belfast native Karl Moore. Moore is 4-0 under the Bellator banner, with finishes in seven of 12 appearances as a professional.

A nine-fight Bellator veteran, Leah McCourt makes her return to Bellator in a highly anticipated Women’s Featherweight clash against Sinead Kavanagh. Kavanagh has built a reputation around her knockout power and relentless style of fighting. The pair of featherweights first encountered each other in 2022 at Bellator 275 in Dublin where Kavanagh emerged victorious. The two will look to prove who is the division’s top contender. 

PFL is the only organization in MMA with the sports-season format, where individual fighters compete in a regular season, playoffs, and championship each year. The combined roster of PFL and Bellator boasts 30% of its fighters independently world-ranked in the top 25 of their respective weight class, the same percentage as UFC. PFL has an expansive global vision for the sport and is building the “Champions League of MMA” with PFL Europe, PFL MENA, and more international leagues in development. PFL leads in technology and innovation, with its proprietary PFL SmartCage, powering fight analytics, real-time betting, AI scoring, and a next-generation viewing experience. PFL is primetime on ESPN/ESPN+ in the U.S. and is broadcast and streamed in 150 countries with 20 premium media distribution partners.

by Abhishek Shukla

PROFESSIONAL FIGHTERS LEAGUE ANNOUNCES THE 2024 SEASON OF PFL EUROPE

Paris (January 18) – The Professional Fighters League (PFL), the fastest growing and most innovative sports league, today announced that the 2024 Season of PFL Europe will be kicked off by unbeaten global superstar Cedric ‘The Best’ Doumbe (5-0) headlining against the undefeated Baissangour “Baki” Chamsoudinov (8-0) at the Accor Arena in Paris on Thursday March 7 live on DAZN. 

Fresh off the PFL’s first-ever event in Paris last year that was voted the No.1 MMA crowd of 2023 and saw Doumbe achieve a viral nine-second knockout, the challenge of the undefeated hugely rated prospect Baki represents without question the toughest opponent of “The Best’s” career to-date with the two Paris natives set to leave it all in the SmartCage on March 7.

In addition to the return of Doumbe, the Accor Arena on March 7 will also witness the start of the PFL Europe Season, which will see a host of new elite talent from across Europe make their PFL debuts, along with some returning faces, all looking to begin their ‘Path to Greatness’ for the coveted PFL Europe Championship belt and $100,000 in prize money.

Set to be packed with storylines and drama, the stakes are even higher in 2024 as 32 athletes compete across four weight categories – including a new European Men’s Welterweight category, 2023 Champion Jakub Kaszuba and other returning faces from the 2023 Season.

Starting in Paris on March 7, PFL Europe will also be returning to where it all started in Newcastle, England on June 8 at Utilita Arena before moving on to new territory in Glasgow, Scotland at OVO Hydro for a huge night of Playoff action on September 28. As per 2023 the season will conclude with an epic Championship event at a venue to be revealed later this year. 

Dan Hardy, Head of Fighter Operations for PFL Europe: “We’re incredibly excited to bring the biggest French MMA Superstar, to the biggest Arena in Paris, in front of the crowd that was voted the best MMA crowd in the world in 2023. Cedric Doumbe’s presence at the top of the card will cap off what is set to be a huge night of showcase fights featuring local French and European talent, as well as the kick off of another exciting season of the PFL Europe League format”.

The events will be broadcast live on DAZN, the global sports streaming platform and new Home of PFL in France. DAZN launched a dedicated product in France in the summer of 2023 and has since been building a catalog of premium sports content for the market. As PFL’s broadcast partner in France, DAZN will broadcast all four PFL Europe events scheduled for 2024. 

Pete Oliver, CEO DAZN Growth Markets: “Since DAZN secured the top two Ligue 1 Uber Eats weekly picks through our partnership with Canal+ in August 2023, we have been looking at opportunities to build a strong portfolio of live sports for the French market. MMA is hugely popular in France, and the upcoming PFL schedule of events is unparalleled. And so, we are delighted to extend our relationship with PFL and deliver an action-packed program for French fans, and those around the world.”

PFL Europe is the PFL’s first international league and showcases the very best MMA athletes across Europe, which began in Newcastle on March 2023, before moving on to Berlin, Paris and finally landing in Dublin for the end-of-season Championship event. The ground-breaking league features 32 of Europe’s top fighters competing across four weight divisions. After four events, Dakota Ditcheva of England, Jakub Kaszuba of Poland, Jakob Nedoh of Slovenia and Khurshed Khakorov of Germany were crowned the first PFL Europe Champions in Dublin, with each Champion taking home $100,000.


PFL Europe Paris – March 7 at Accor Arena – Live on DAZN

Welterweight Main Event: Cedric Doumbe (5-0) vs. Baissangour “Baki” Chamsoudinov (8-0)

by Abhishek Shukla

Shamil Gasanov Overwhelms Oh Ho Taek To Win By Unanimous Decision In ONE Fight Night 18 Main Event

January 13, 2024 – Bangkok, Thailand: ONE Championship™ (ONE) put together a captivating evening of martial arts action in U.S. primetime with ONE Fight Night 18: Gasanov vs. Oh.

In the main event, #4-ranked featherweight MMA contender Shamil “The Cobra” Gasanov leaned on his impeccable grappling to prevail over “Spider” Oh Ho Taek.

The Russian powerhouse authored a commanding performance, leveraging his superior ground game to consistently outmaneuver Oh from bell to bell.

In the second round, “The Cobra” came close to sealing the deal with a tight rear-naked choke. However, his South Korean opponent showed uncanny resilience and valiantly fought back, pushing the bout into the third stanza.

Gasanov picked up where he left off in the final five minutes of the match, dominating Oh with grappling excellence to win by unanimous decision.

In the co-main event, Suablack Tor Pran49 pushed himself to the limit to defeat Stefan Korodi in a fiercely contested bantamweight Muay Thai fight.

Despite a strong start, Suablack faced adversity in the second round when Korodi connected with a powerful right hand to send the Thai to the canvas. Suablack regained his composure after beating the 10-count, and then he responded with a barrage of devastating strikes, turning the tables on Korodi by dropping the Irishman twice in that same round.

In the third and final frame, both men stood toe-to-toe and unloaded their heaviest attacks. However, Suablack’s effective combination striking down the stretch ultimately secured him a unanimous decision victory on the scorecards.

See complete results below. For all remaining bout reports, please visit www.onefc.com.

For ONE Fight Night 18, ONE Championship has been proud to partner with Stage Front VIP (global VIP experience partner), Monster Energy (exclusive energy drink partner), TUMI (official premium luggage partner), and Fairtex (official glove partner), featuring branding in-stadium and inside the Circle, custom branded content across broadcast and digital, and more.

Performance bonus winners: Kwon Won Il (US$50,000), Rungrawee Sitsongpeenong (US$50,000)

ONE Fight Night 18 Complete Results

Shamil Gasanov defeats Oh Ho Taek via unanimous decision (MMA – featherweight)

Suablack Tor Pran49 defeats Stefan Korodi via unanimous decision (Muay Thai – bantamweight)

Kwon Won Il defeats Shinechagtga Zoltsetseg via TKO (ground-and-pound) at 2:40 of round two (MMA – bantamweight)

Rungrawee Sitsongpeenong defeats Shakir Al-Tekreeti via TKO (3 knockdowns in 2nd round) at 1:44 of round two (Muay Thai – lightweight)

Artem Belakh defeats Enkh-Orgil Baatarkhuu via TKO (referee stoppage, flying knee-punch combo) at 4:55 of round two (MMA – bantamweight)

Liam Nolan defeats Ali Aliev via unanimous decision (Muay Thai – lightweight)

Kang Ji Won defeats Mikhail Jamal Abdul-Latif via TKO (ground-and-pound) at 4:09 of round two (MMA – heavyweight)

Beybulat Isaev defeats Yuri Farcas via unanimous decision (kickboxing – light heavyweight)

Ibragim Dauev defeats Mark Abelardo via unanimous decision (MMA – bantamweight)

by Abhishek Shukla

ONE Fight Night 18: Gasanov vs. Oh Final Weight and Hydration Results

January 12, 2024 – Bangkok, Thailand: ONE Championship™ (ONE) today released the ONE Fight Night 18: Gasanov vs. Oh Final Weight and Hydration Results.

MMA – Featherweight (Over 145 – 155 lbs)

Shamil Gasanov (154.25 lbs, 1.0128) vs. Oh Ho Taek (153.50 lbs, 1.0124)

Muay Thai – Bantamweight (Over 135- 145 lbs)

Suablack Tor Pran49 (145.00 lbs, 1.0244) vs. Stefan Korodi (145.00 lbs, 1.0091)

MMA – Bantamweight (Over 135- 145 lbs)

Kwon Won Il (144.25 lbs, 1.0031) vs. Shinechagtga Zoltsetseg (144.50 lbs, 1.0195)

Muay Thai – Lightweight (Over 155 – 170 lbs)

Rungrawee Sitsongpeenong (169.25 lbs, 1.0070) vs. Shakir Al-Tekreeti (169.25 lbs, 1.0040)

MMA – Bantamweight (Over 135- 145 lbs)

Artem Belakh (145.00 lbs, 1.0061) vs. Enkh-Orgil Baatarkhuu (144.50 lbs, 1.0044)

Muay Thai – Lightweight (Over 155 – 170 lbs)

Liam Nolan (169.25 lbs, 1.0066) vs. Ali Aliev (170.00 lbs, 1.0107)

MMA – Heavyweight (Over 225 – 265 lbs)

Kang Ji Won (243.50 lbs, 1.0176) vs. Mikhail Jamal Abdul-Latif (226.50 lbs, 1.0031)

Kickboxing – Light Heavyweight (Over 205 – 225 lbs)

Beybulat Isaev (224.50 lbs, 1.0027) vs. Yuri Farcas (223.75 lbs, 1.0214)

MMA – Bantamweight (Over 135- 145 lbs)*

Mark Abelardo (144.75 lbs, 1.0078) vs. Ibragim Dauev (145.00 lbs, 1.0044)

Hydration values less than or equal to 1.0250 earn a passing mark, while values greater than or equal to 1.0251 earn a failing mark. Athletes who failed weight and hydration tests were given until 11 p.m. local time to clear tests.

*Ibragim Dauev makes weight and passes hydration, but outside of the window. He will forfeit 25% of his purse to his opponent

by Abhishek Shukla

ONE Championship Announces Return to the U.S. with ONE Fight Night Events in Denver and Atlanta

January 10, 2024 – Singapore: ONE Championship, the world’s largest martial arts organization, today announced that the promotion will return to the U.S. with live events at Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado for ONE Fight Night 26 on September 6 and State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia for ONE Fight Night 28 on November 8.  
 
Coming off a successful U.S. debut last May with ONE Fight Night 10 at the sold-out 1stBank Center in Colorado, ONE will look to carry that momentum into 2024, with all monthly ONE Fight Night events continuing to air live on Prime Video in the U.S. and Canada.  

Chatri Sityodtong, Chairman and CEO of ONE Championship, stated: “We’re thrilled to return to the U.S. to showcase the greatest World Champion martial artists in the country’s best cities and sports arenas. America remains a high-priority market for us as we continue our global expansion, and we can’t wait to get back on-ground to entertain our passionate fanbase in the region with quarterly U.S. events in September 2024 and beyond.” 
 

Details on the fight card and ticket on-sale will be announced at a later date, but you can register here for the latest ticket pre-sale information for these events. 
 

Stage Front VIP, the exclusive U.S. VIP experience partner of ONE, will continue to provide fans with unrivaled access through immersive VIP experiences that include premier seating, premium hospitality offerings, athlete meet-and-greets, event collectibles and more. 

The complete 2024 ONE Fight Night event schedule on Prime Video will be as follows: 

  • Friday, January 12 – ONE Fight Night 18 on Prime Video 
  • Friday, February 16 – ONE Fight Night 19 on Prime Video 
  • Friday, March 8 – ONE Fight Night 20 on Prime Video 
  • Friday, April 5 – ONE Fight Night 21 on Prime Video 
  • Friday, May 3 – ONE Fight Night 22 on Prime Video 
  • Friday, June 7 – ONE Fight Night 23 on Prime Video 
  • Friday, July 5 – ONE Fight Night 24 on Prime Video 
  • Friday, August 2 – ONE Fight Night 25 on Prime Video 
  • Friday, September 6 – ONE Fight Night 26 on Prime Video 
  • Friday, October 4 – ONE Fight Night 27 on Prime Video 
  • Friday, November 8 – ONE Fight Night 28 on Prime Video 
  • Friday, December 6 – ONE Fight Night 29 on Prime Video
by Abhishek Shukla

Professional Fighters League Bolsters Global Executive Team, Announcing Jerome Mazet as GM of PFL Mena

NEW YORK (January 11, 2024): The Professional Fighters League (PFL), the fastest-growing and most innovative sports league, has today announced Jerome Mazet as General Manager of PFL MENA, which when launched in 2024, will become the preeminent MMA league in the Middle East. He will be based in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

The appointment follows a historic investment agreement with SRJ Sports Investments (“SRJ”) to accelerate PFL’s ascension in the MENA region and beyond, bringing more opportunities and experiences to PFL’s athletes and sports fans alike. Leading a transformative period of growth for the sport as it creates the Champions League of MMA, PFL MENA is the brand’s second international expansion league outside of the United States. The disruptive model will provide top fighters from across the Middle East and North Africa with the opportunity to earn their way to the Global Regular Season. The successful launch of PFL Europe in 2023 captured the attention of the European sports landscape and showcased the rise of the next wave of MMA superstars, including PFL Europe Champion, Dakota Ditcheva.

Mazet joins PFL from the Etihad Arena, one of the Middle East’s premier entertainment venues, where he led commercial and marketing operations and negotiated all partnership agreements. Previously, he served as Head of Sponsorship for Flash Entertainment, leading efforts around the FIFA Club World Cup and AFC Asian Cup. Mazet also served as Global Marketing Director for Trina Solar, a Fortune Fast 100 company, and founded Mandaray, a sports and entertainment agency in China. He holds an MBA from Boston College and a master’s degree in marketing from Kedge Business School.

“There is an incredible demand for a premium MMA product in the Middle East and PFL MENA will become a game-changer for fighters, fans and partners across the region,” Mazet said. “I’m excited to be joining the industry co-leader as we work to revolutionize and professionalize the sport across the globe.”

“We welcome Jerome Mazet as General Manager of PFL MENA as we prepare to launch our second international expansion league in 2024,” said PFL CEO Peter Murray. “The Middle East is now the fight capital of the world and we’re excited about the opportunity to lead the professionalization of the sport of MMA across the region.”

PFL is the only organization in MMA with a sports-season format, where individual fighters compete in a regular season, playoffs, and championship each. The combined roster of PFL and Bellator boasts 30% of its fighters independently world-ranked in the top 25 of their respective weight class, the same percentage as UFC. PFL has an expansive global vision for the sport and is building the “Champions League of MMA” with PFL Europe, PFL MENA, and more international leagues in development. PFL leads in technology and innovation, with its proprietary PFL SmartCage, powering fight analytics, real-time betting, AI scoring, and a next-generation viewing experience. PFL is primetime on ESPN/ESPN+ in the U.S. and is broadcast and streamed in 150 countries with 20 premium media distribution partners.

SRJ Sports Investments’ in PFL was driven by the strategic importance of mixed martial arts in growing markets. The incoming PFL MENA League remains at the forefront of this, with major events being brought to Saudi Arabia and the wider region as part of the investment agreement.

by Abhishek Shukla

ONE Championship Announces Main Event for ONE 166: Qatar Will Be Reinier de Ridder vs. Anatoly Malykhin II for ONE Middleweight MMA World Title

Singapore — December 28, 2023 — ONE Championship (ONE), the world’s largest martial arts organization, today announced that a rematch between reigning ONE Middleweight MMA World Champion Reinier de Ridder (16-1) of the Netherlands and ONE Heavyweight and Light Heavyweight MMA World Champion Anatoly Malykhin (13-0) of Russia will headline ONE 166: Qatar, presented by Visit Qatar and taking place at the Lusail Sports Arena on Friday, March 1.

Tickets for ONE 166: Qatar are on sale now at the Virgin Megastore and Q-Tickets.

Last December at ONE Fight Night 5, Malykhin – already the ONE Interim Heavyweight MMA World Champion – handed De Ridder the only loss of his career to claim the light heavyweight crown. I

n the process, the undefeated Russian became a two-division World Champion in ONE, a feat only a handful of athletes have achieved. Now, “Sladkiy” looks to make history and become a ONE MMA World Champion across three different divisions.

On the other side, “The Dutch Knight” will look to even the score with Malykhin on the biggest stage possible. Prior to suffering his first-ever defeat, the submission specialist had rattled off seven straight wins in ONE, including five via finish, to become a two-division World Champion in his own right.

ONE 166: Qatar features another highly anticipated World Championship rematch, as reigning ONE Strawweight MMA World Champion Jarred Brooks of the U.S. defends his title against the Philippines’ Joshua Pacio. Also on the card is a clash of heavyweight MMA contenders, as Iranian juggernaut Amir Aliakbari takes on former ONE Heavyweight MMA World Champion Arjan Bhullar of India. Plus, former ONE Flyweight Submission Grappling World Title challengers will collide, as Yemeni-Saudi BJJ black belt Osamah Almarwai takes on former IBJJF World Champion Cleber Sousa of Brazil.

As a part of grassroots efforts to develop martial arts talent in the region, ONE will also host a Road to ONE submission grappling tournament in the lead-up to ONE 166: Qatar during fight week. More bouts for ONE 166: Qatar and the Road to ONE tournament will be announced in the coming weeks.

by Abhishek Shukla

Tawanchai Retains ONE Featherweight Muay Thai World Title With Majority Decision Win Over Superbon

December 22, 2023 – Bangkok, Thailand: ONE Championship™ (ONE) put together a historic evening of Muay Thai at ONE Friday Fights 46: Tawanchai vs. Superbon. Three World Titles were on the line in the pay-per-view portion of the stacked bout card.

ONE Championship, in partnership with leading premium lifestyle and luxury performance brand TUMI, presented the prestigious ONE World Title belt to the World Champions.

In the main event, Tawanchai PK Saenchai retained his ONE Featherweight Muay Thai World Title in an intense five-round war against former ONE Featherweight Kickboxing World Champion Superbon Singha Mawynn.

The Thai megastars wasted no time, as they met in the center of the ring to trade their most powerful strikes. It was a highly entertaining yet extremely technical contest between two of Muay Thai’s best pound-for-pound athletes.

The defending champion pushed the pace relentlessly, with the challenger opting to lay back and counter throughout the first three rounds. Action intensified in the final two frames, as both Tawanchai and Superbon blasted each other with heavy hands and dynamite kicks.

In the end, it was Tawanchai who proved to be the more accurate striker, with judges scoring the bout for the 24-year-old phenom to win by majority decision.

In the co-main event, hometown hero Prajanchai PK Saenchai put together a thrilling knockout performance, stopping rival Joseph Lasiri to unify the ONE Strawweight Muay Thai World Championship.

Coming in as the interim champion, Prajanchai was eager to avenge his 2022 loss to Lasiri. A little over a minute into the action, the Thai superstar caught Lasiri coming in with a counter left elbow, sending “The Hurricane” to the canvas. The referee gave the Italian-Moroccan the count, but it was clear he wasn’t getting up.

Prajanchai earned a US$50,000 bonus for his performance.

In the first World Title contest, Thai prodigy Phetjeeja shocked the globe with a massive victory over French-Algerian icon Anissa Meksen to capture the ONE Interim Women’s Atomweight Kickboxing World Championship.

The action started off calculated, with both women testing each other’s mettle in the first round. Phetjeeja began to push the pace in the second, forcing her opponent to the ropes with combinations, while Meksen opted to counter. “The Queen” showcased fantastic head movement in evading Meksen’s best shots throughout the contest.

The last two rounds were close, with both fighters landing powerful shots. In the end, all three judges scored the bout in favor of Phetjeeja to win by unanimous decision.

With the victory, the 21-year-old became the first ONE Friday Fights contract winner to claim a ONE World Title.

ONE Friday Fights 46 Complete Results

Tawanchai PK Saenchai defeats Superbon Singha Mawynn via majority decision to retain the ONE Featherweight Muay Thai World Title

Prajanchai PK Saenchai defeats Joseph Lasiri via KO (left elbow) at 1:28 of round one to unify the ONE Strawweight Muay Thai World Title

Phetjeeja defeats Anissa Meksen via unanimous decision to claim the ONE Interim Atomweight Kickboxing World Title

Nico Carrillo defeats Nong-O Hama via KO (left elbow) at 1:28 of round two (Muay Thai – bantamweight)

Seksan Or Kwanmuang defeats River Daz via split decision (Muay Thai – catchweight 140 lbs)

Nabil Anane defeats Muangthai PK Saenchai via unanimous decision (Muay Thai – catchweight 136 lbs)

Kulabdam Sor Jor Piek Uthai defeats Fariyar Aminipour via KO (body shot) at 2:51 of round one (Muay Thai – bantamweight)

Jaosuayai Sor Dechapan defeats Petsukumvit Boi Bangna via majority decision (Muay Thai – flyweight)

Suablack Tor Pran49 defeats Craig Coakley via KO (body shot combo) at 2:15 of round one (Muay Thai – bantamweight)

Chorfah Tor Sangtiennoi defeats Eisaku Ogasawara via KO (right punch) at 0:57 of round two (Muay Thai – catchweight 132 lbs)

Suriyanlek Por Yenying defeats Yodkritsada Sor Sommai via KO (right punch)at 0:15 of round two (Muay Thai – catchweight 132 lbs)

by Abhishek Shukla

ONE Championship Announces 3 Fights for ONE 166: Qatar and Road to ONE Submission Grappling Tournament

Singapore — December 18, 2023 — ONE Championship (ONE), the world’s largest martial arts organization, today announced three bouts for ONE 166: Qatar, the promotion’s on-ground debut in the country on Friday, March 1 at the Lusail Sports Arena.

Tickets for this historic event are on sale now at the Virgin Megastore and Q-Tickets.

The first World Championship bout set for this historic card features a highly anticipated rematch for MMA gold as ONE Strawweight MMA World Champion Jarred “The Monkey God” Brooks of the U.S. defends his title against former World Champion Joshua “The Passion” Pacio of the Philippines.

ONE 166: Qatar will also showcase a clash of heavyweight contenders as red-hot Iranian star Amir Aliakbari — who is riding a three-fight, three knockout winning streak — takes on former ONE heavyweight king Arjan Bhullar of India. The event will also play host to a battle between former ONE Flyweight Submission Grappling World Title challengers as Yemeni-Saudi BJJ black belt Osamah Almarwai takes on former IBJJF World Champion Cleber Sousa of Brazil.

As a part of grassroots efforts to develop martial arts talent in the region, ONE will also host a Road to ONE submission grappling tournament during the ONE 166: Qatar fight week.
 
In addition to playing host to a pair of grappling super-fights, Qatar’s finest men’s and women’s grapplers will compete for US$100,000 contracts across multiple divisions as they attempt to realize their dream of competing on ONE Championship’s global stage.

Additional details on the ONE 166: Qatar fight card and the Road to ONE submission grappling tournament will be revealed in the coming weeks.

ONE 166: Qatar will be broadcast in the Middle East region on beIN Sports starting at 3:30pm AST. Details on how to watch the global broadcast, which can be viewed in over 190 countries worldwide, will be announced at a later date.

by Abhishek Shukla

ONE Championship Closes Out 2023 with ONE Friday Fights 46: Tawanchai vs. Superbon Pay-Per-View Event

Singapore — December 15, 2023 — ONE Championship (ONE), the world’s largest martial arts organization, today announced that ONE Friday Fights 46: Tawanchai vs. Superbon, featuring the long-awaited World Championship super-fight between Tawanchai PK Saenchai and Superbon Singha Mawynn, will be aired on Watch.ONEFC.com as a global pay-per-view.

How To Watch ONE Friday Fights 46:

  • Tune in December 22 at 7:30 p.m. ICT/7:30 a.m. EST for regional card
  • Regional card available on Watch.ONEFC.com, ONE YouTube, and ONE Facebook*
  • Tune in December 22 at 9:30 p.m. ICT/9:30 a.m. EST for global PPV card
  • Global PPV card available exclusively on Watch.ONEFC.com*
    *Geo-restrictions may apply

Live from the iconic Lumpinee Boxing Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand, on December 22, the main event will feature two of the most dangerous strikers on the planet, as reigning ONE Featherweight Muay Thai World Champion Tawanchai PK Saenchai defends his belt against #1-ranked contender and former ONE Featherweight Kickboxing World Champion Superbon Singha Mawynn.

The stacked card will also showcase a highly anticipated ONE Strawweight Muay Thai World Title unification bout between current champion Joseph Lasiri and interim titleholder Prajanchai PK Saenchai. In the third World Championship bout, top pound-for-pound women’s kickboxer Anissa Meksen will take on 21-year-old striking prodigy Phetjeeja Lukjaoporongtom for the ONE Interim Women’s Atomweight Kickboxing World Title.

ONE Friday Fights 46 will also feature the returns of former ONE Bantamweight Muay Thai World Champion Nong-O Hama, Scottish breakout star Nico Carrillo, Thai sensation Seksan Or Kwanmuang, and more. Complete card details can be found below:

 

GLOBAL PPV CARD

ONE Featherweight Muay Thai World Title

(c) Tawanchai PK Saenchai vs. (1) Superbon Singha Mawynn

ONE Strawweight Muay Thai World Title Unification

(c) Joseph Lasiri vs. (ic) Prajanchai PK Saenchai

ONE Interim Women’s Atomweight Kickboxing World Title

Anissa Meksen vs. Phetjeeja Lukjaoporongtom

Muay Thai – Bantamweight

Nong-O Hama vs. Nico Carrillo

Muay Thai – 140-Pound Catchweight

Seksan Or Kwanmuang vs. River Daz

REGIONAL CARD

Muay Thai – 136-Pound Catchweight

Muangthai PK Saenchai vs. Nabil Anane

Muay Thai – Bantamweight

Kulabdam Sor Jor Piek Uthai vs. Fariyar Aminipour

Muay Thai – Flyweight

Jaosuayai Sor Dechapan vs. Petsukumvit Boi Bangna

Muay Thai – Bantamweight

Suablack Tor Pran49 vs. Craig Coakley

Muay Thai – 132-Pound Catchweight

Eisaku Ogasawara vs. Chorfah Tor Sangtiennoi

Muay Thai – 132-Pound Catchweight

Suriyanlek Por Yenying vs. Yodkritsada Sor Sommai

by Abhishek Shukla

Reigning UFC Champions Edwards, Pantoja Aim for Year-End Fireworks in UFC 296

UFC 296 heads to Las Vegas for its final pay-per-view of 2023. T-Mobile Arena, the home of the greatest sporting events, will host UFC for the final time this year. For the welterweight title, the reigning champion Leon Edwards will battle it out against former interim welterweight champion Colby Covington. Additionally, Alexandre Pantoja aims to defend his flyweight title against No. 2 Brandon Royval. UFC 296 airs live on Sony Sports Network on Sunday, 17th December 2023, from 8.30 AM IST onwards.

In the clash for welterweight supremacy, Edwards, who is known for his mastery across the disciplines of grappling and kickboxing, stands as the embodiment of a ‘Jack of all Trades.’ His flawless striking, coupled with strategic positioning, has earned him critical acclaim. His unforgettable KO kick against Kamaru Usman in UFC 278 earned him the welterweight belt. In contrast, Colby Covington, nicknamed ‘Chaos,’ is renowned for his wrestling, relentless pace and cardio, wearing down opponents with extreme determination. He tasted gold by winning the interim welterweight championship in 2018, but had to relinquish it due to injury. Since then, two prior attempts to capture the title fell short, and now Covington seeks redemption by pursuing Edwards from start to finish for the coveted UFC welterweight belt.

On the flipside, the flyweight title showdown features the newly crowned champion Alexandre Pantoja, who will square off against formidable No. 2 contender Brandon Royval. Pantoja clinched the flyweight title in the same arena during UFC 290, triumphing over Brandon Moreno by split decision. The Brazilian maestro boasts precision striking, exceptional grappling prowess, and adaptability that makes him a formidable force against any adversary. For the resilient ‘Raw Dawg’ Brandon Royval, this presents opportunity for redemption against Pantoja, having lost in their first encounter. He is ranked #2 in the division, riding a three-fight win streak, and holds four Fight and Performance of the Night awards, so he’ll be bringing all his firepower to a bout that promises all the gold.

Catch this action-packed event of thrilling and unpredictable mixed martial arts LIVE only on Sony Sports Network.

Where to watch UFC 296 in India?

UFC 296 will be aired live on Sony Sports Network in India.

Which TV channel will telecast UFC 296 in India?

UFC 296 – Edwards vs. Covington will be live telecast on Sony Sports Ten 2 SD and HD, Sony Sports Ten 3 SD and HD (Hindi), and Sony Sports Ten 4 (Tamil & Telugu) SD & HD channels.

Where can I watch UFC 296 online in India?

UFC 296 can be streamed live on www.sonyliv.com in India.

ONE Championship
by Abhishek Shukla

Roman Kryklia Stops Alex Roberts to Win Inaugural ONE Heavyweight Muay Thai World Title

December 8, 2023 – Bangkok, Thailand: ONE Championship™ (ONE) put together an epic evening of knockout action in U.S. primetime with ONE Fight Night 17: Kryklia vs. Roberts, the organization’s first-ever event featuring all Muay Thai bouts.

ONE Championship, in partnership with leading premium lifestyle and luxury performance brand TUMI, presented the prestigious ONE World Title belt to the World Champions.

In the main event, ONE Light Heavyweight Kickboxing World Champion Roman Kryklia captured the inaugural ONE Heavyweight Muay Thai World Title with a second-round knockout of Alex Roberts.

The Ukrainian superstar wasted no time asserting dominance in the first round, showcasing his strength by dropping Roberts with a powerful right straight.

Although Roberts managed to beat the count by displaying impressive resilience, “The Viking” was unprepared for what awaited him in the second round. Kryklia methodically walked down the Australian, landing a right hand before flooring his opponent with a precise left hook.

Once Roberts hit the canvas, referee Justin Brown recognized that he was unable to continue and quickly waved off the match. With the win, Kryklia is now a two-sport ONE World Champion. He also took home a US$50,000 bonus for his performance.

In the co-main event, “Smokin’” Jo Nattawut and Luke Lessei engaged in an exhilarating three-round featherweight Muay Thai clash.

The opening round was closely contested, with both men demonstrating their top-notch offense.

The intensity persisted in the second round, as the two elite strikers continued to unleash powerful kicks and doubled up on their punches. However, #4-ranked featherweight Muay Thai contender Nattawut began to establish his rhythm with a higher output and more impactful blows.

The third and final round witnessed a surge in aggression from both men, as they bombarded each other with ferocious attacks from various angles. Ultimately, Nattawut secured a hard-earned victory, as he emerged triumphant via unanimous decision on the judges’ scorecards.

For ONE Fight Night 17, ONE Championship has been proud to partner with Stage Front VIP (global VIP experience partner), Monster Energy (exclusive energy drink partner), TUMI (official premium luggage partner), and Fairtex (official glove partner), featuring branding in-stadium and inside the Circle, custom branded content across broadcast and digital, and more.

Performance bonus winners: Roman Kryklia (US$50,000), Dmitry Menshikov (US$50,000), Jacob Smith (US$50,000)

ONE Fight Night 17 Complete Results

Roman Kryklia defeats Alex Roberts via KO (left hook) at 0:25 of round two to claim the ONE Heavyweight Muay Thai World Title

Jo Nattawut defeats Luke Lessei via unanimous decision (Muay Thai – featherweight)

Mohamed Younes Rabah defeats Saemapetch Fairtex via KO (punch combo) at 2:29 of round one (Muay Thai – catchweight 151.75 lbs)

Dmitry Menshikov defeats Mouhcine Chafi via KO (punch combo) at 1:59 of round one (Muay Thai – lightweight)

Jacob Smith defeats Walter Goncalves via KO (knee to the body) at 2:54 of round one (Muay Thai – flyweight)

Johan Ghazali defeats Edgar Tabares via KO (punch combo) at 0:36 of round one (Muay Thai – catchweight 141 lbs)

Denis Puric defeats Nguyen Tran Duy Nhat via KO (left hook) at 1:35 of round two (Muay Thai – catchweight 139.75 lbs)

Ellis Badr Barboza defeats Thongpoon PK Saenchai via KO (body shot) at 2:21 of round three (Muay Thai – catchweight 132.5 lbs)

by Abhishek Shukla

PROFESSIONAL FIGHTERS LEAGUE AND ESPN ANNOUNCE MULTI-YEAR U.S. MEDIA RIGHTS RENEWAL

NEW YORK (November 30, 2023) – The Professional Fighters League (PFL) and ESPN have announced a new multi-year media rights agreement which includes live event distribution of the PFL Regular Season, Playoffs and World Championship on ESPN linear networks and ESPN+. ESPN+ PPV will also distribute the new PFL PPV Super Fight Division in the U.S. when it launches in 2024. 
 

The PFL features some of the sport’s top fighters who will also be highlighted across ESPN platforms in pre- and post-fight coverage, as well as shoulder programming on linear and digital channels. 
 

“We’ve had five successful seasons on ESPN and we’re excited for the next phase of growth for MMA and the Professional Fighters League with this agreement,” said PFL CEO Peter Murray. “Our innovative sport-season format, elite roster of athletes, and the launch of the PFL PPV Super Fight Division, which will feature some of the world’s greatest combat sports stars such as Francis Ngannou and Jake Paul, are ushering in the new era of MMA as a mainstream global sports entertainment platform.” 
 

The PFL PPV Super Fight Division will be a global platform for some of the best MMA fighters and combat sports stars. Francis Ngannou, arguably one of the greatest heavyweight fighters in the world today, is under an exclusive MMA contract to fight in the division and is joined by one of the most influential figures in combat sports, Jake Paul, and women’s star fighters Claressa Shields, Amanda Serrano and Savannah Marshall. The first PFL PPV Super Fight will be in early 2024 with headlining fighters and location to be announced at a later date. 
 

PFL is the only organization in MMA with the sports-season format, where individual fighters compete in a regular season, playoffs, and championship each year. The combined roster of PFL and Bellator boasts 30% of its fighters independently world-ranked in the top 25 of their respective weight-class. PFL has an expansive global vision for the sport and is building the “Champions League of MMA” with PFL Europe, PFL MENA, and more international leagues in development. PFL leads in technology and innovation, with its proprietary PFL SmartCage, powering fight analytics, real-time betting, AI scoring, and a next-generation viewing experience. PFL is on ESPN/ESPN+ in the U.S. and is broadcast and streamed in 150 countries with 20 premium media distribution partners.

by Abhishek Shukla

Puja Tomar to face World Champion Stamp Fairtex in ONE CHampionship

4 December 2019 – Bangkok, Thailand: The largest global sports media property in Asian history, ONE Championship™ (ONE), has just announced the complete card for ONE: A NEW TOMORROW, set for the Impact Arena in Bangkok on Friday, 10 January 2020. ONE Championship’s first event of the new year brings together an exciting ensemble of the world’s greatest martial arts talent, who are set to take the global stage and showcase their incredible skills.

In the main event, reigning ONE Flyweight Muay Thai World Champion Rodtang “The Iron Man” Jitmuangnon of Thailand will take on England’s Jonathan “The General” Haggerty in a highly-anticipated rematch for the ONE World Title.

Like many Thai warriors before him, Rodtang started training in Muay Thai when he was a young boy, competing in his first professional bout at the age of 10. Initially training at a small camp in his hometown of Pattalung, Rodtang eventually made the permanent move to Bangkok to hone his skills at the famed Jitmuangnon camp. 

By the time he turned 21, Rodtang had already garnered over 250 wins, capturing the prestigious Omnoi Stadium World Title twice. He joined ONE Super Series not long after, and lifted the ONE Flyweight Muay Thai World Championship last August after earning a hard-fought Majority Decision over Haggerty. He then successfully defended the belt with a Split Decision win over Brazil’s Walter Goncalves.

Haggerty, on the other hand, stormed into ONE Super Series with victories over Joseph Lasiri and Thai legend Sam-A Gaiyanghadao, showcasing his unique striking style in the process. The win over Sam-A earned him the ONE Flyweight Muay Thai World Title, which he surrendered to Rodtang in his first defense.

The first meeting between Rodtang and Haggerty was extremely close. This rematch aims to settle the dispute and determine the rightful owner of the ONE World Title.

ONE: A NEW TOMORROW also features a series of compelling mixed martial arts contests that offer interesting matchups.

ONE Atomweight Kickboxing and Muay Thai World Champion Stamp Fairtex of Thailand continues her quest for the mixed martial arts World Title when she takes on India’s Puja “The Cyclone” Tomar.

Stamp is 3-0 in mixed martial arts competition, recently winning both of her bouts in 2019 over tough opponents. Stamp has expressed her commitment to focus on her mixed martial arts career. Against Tomar, she will be facing an experienced veteran who poses a solid challenge.

Also on the card is Maira Mazar of Brazil who takes on Japan’s Ayaka Miura in a three-round bout.

Mazar is making her ONE Championship debut, bringing power and a penchant for spectacular knockouts to the table. Miura, conversely, is riding a five-bout winning streak with two of those wins coming under the ONE banner.

Vietnamese-American rising star Thanh Le is back in action against Japan’s Ryogo “Kaitai” Takahashi.

Le has impressed so far in his time inside the ONE Circle, putting together a pair of thrilling knockouts against Yusup Saadulaev and former ONE Lightweight World Champion Kotetsu Boku. Le hopes for a similar result against Takahashi, a Shooto Pacific Rim Featherweight Champion who has won his last eight bouts.

A battle between rising stars ensues when featherweights Ma Jia Wen of China and Shinechagtga Zoltsetseg of Mongolia collide.

Ma is 6-2 in his ONE Championship career so far, showcasing tremendous finishing ability having ended four of his wins within the distance. Meanwhile, Zoltsetseg, a ONE Warrior Series contract winner, has won his last three bouts including two scintillating knockouts, setting up his ONE Championship main roster debut.

Finally, a welterweight showdown transpires when Russia’s Raimond Magomedaliev faces ONE Championship newcomer Joey “Mama’s Boy” Pierotti of the United States. Meanwhile, Ramon “The Bicolano” Gonzales of the Philippines takes on Elipitua “The Magician” Siregar of Indonesia.

Also featured at ONE: A NEW TOMORROW is a plethora of highly-anticipated ONE Super Series Muay Thai matchups for striking enthusiasts.

Former ONE World Title challenger Han Zi Hao of China makes his return to the global stage to face ISKA and WBC World Champion Mehdi “Diamond Heart” Zatout of France. Looking to build off his impressive ONE Championship debut is Thailand’s Sangmanee “The Million Dollar Baby” Sathian MuayThai who locks horns with WBC Muay Thai Japan Champion Kenta Yamada of Japan. Also from Thailand, multiple-time Muay Thai World Champion Muangthai “Elbow Zombie” PK.Saenchaimuaythaigym puts his reputation at stake when he throws down with former ONE World Title challenger Brice “The Truck” Delval of Algeria. Eight-time Muay Thai World Champion Liam “Hitman” Harrison of England squares off with Malaysia’s Mohammed “Jordan Boy” Bin Mahmoud.

Last last but not least, Victor Pinto takes on Adam Noi in a kickboxing bout.ONE: A NEW TOMORROW
Friday, 10 January
Impact Arena, Bangkok, Thailand

Main Event
ONE Flyweight Muay Thai World Championship
Rodtang Jitmuangnon (C) vs Jonathan Haggerty
Muay Thai: 61.2kg

Stamp Fairtex vs Puja Tomar
Mixed Martial Arts: 52.2kg

Maira Mazar vs Ayaka Miura
Mixed Martial Arts: 56.7kg

Raimond Magomedaliev vs Joey Pierotti
Mixed Martial Arts: 83.9kg

Ramon Gonzales vs Elipitua Siregar 
Mixed Martial Arts: 56.7kg

Thanh Le vs Ryogo Takahashi
Mixed Martial Arts: 70.3kg

Ma Jia Wen vs Shinechagtga Zoltsetseg
Mixed Martial Arts: 70.3kg

Han Zi Hao  vs Mehdi Zatout
Muay Thai: 65.8kg

Sangmanee Sathian MuayThai  vs Kenta Yamada
Muay Thai: 65.8kg

Muangthai PK.Saenchaimuaythaigym vs Brice Delval
Muay Thai: 65.8kg

Liam Harrison vs Mohammed Bin Mahmoud
Muay Thai: 65.8kg

Victor Pinto vs Adam Noi
Kickboxing: 65.8kg
One Championship
by Abhishek Shukla

Rahul “The Kerala Krusher” Raju defeated Pakistani newcomer in ONE Championship

22 November 2019 – Singapore: The largest global sports media property in Asian history, ONE Championship™ (ONE), returned home to the Singapore Indoor Stadium to deliver yet another incredible martial arts spectacle. ONE: EDGE OF GREATNESS played host to the world’s most amazing martial arts athletes, as they took to the ONE Championship ring to showcase their skills.

Rahul “The Kerala Krusher” Raju scored another big win for India as he notched an impressive submission victory over Pakistani newcomer Furqan “The Lion” Cheema. Raju displayed an all-around attack, using his striking to set up his unstoppable takedowns. In the second round, Raju unloaded a crisp combination before once again taking Cheema down and from there, transitioned into a rear-naked choke to force the tap. 

In the main event, reigning ONE Bantamweight Muay Thai World Champion Nong-O Gaiyanghadao of Thailand retained his World Title with a knockout victory over countryman Saemapetch Fairtex.

Muay Thai icon Nong-O Gaiyanghadao of Thailand put on a performance for the ages as he dominated compatriot Saemapetch Fairtex en route to a knockout win to retain the ONE Bantamweight Muay Thai World Championship. Nong-O showed exactly why he is considered a legend in the sport, lighting Saemapetch up in the early going, which led to a pair of massive knockdowns in the second round. The challenger battled back valiantly in the third round, as Saemapetch delivered his own punishing combinations. In the fourth round however, Nong-O ended the night with a stiff right straight that caught Saemapetch off guard and turned the lights off almost immediately. 

In the co-main event, Singapore’s own Amir Khan snapped a three-bout losing streak, notching a hard-earned split decision win over fellow former ONE World Title challenger Ev “E.T.” Ting of Malaysia and New Zealand. The hometown bet Khan found success early in the bout as he made good use of his Muay Thai skills to pick Ting apart with strikes. Ting rallied back in the succeeding round, putting the pressure on Khan with his wrestling. After three rounds of back-and-forth action, it was Khan who earned the victory on two of the three judges’ score cards.

American Troy “Pretty Boy” Worthen kept his unbeaten record intact with an impressive technical knockout win over China’s “Rock Man” Chen Lei. The former NCWA Wrestling Champion put his grappling superiority on display, taking Chen down at will and keeping full control on the mat. Worthen continued to impose his will in the second round, taking Chen down before getting mount and unloading a flurry of ground-and-pound, forcing the referee to step in and stop the bout. 

Former ONE Strawweight World Champion Dejdamrong Sor Amnuaysirichoke of Thailand returned to the winner’s circle with a spectacular third-round technical knockout victory over Pakistan’s Muhammad “The Spider” Imran. Dejdamrong dictated the pace all match long, as the multiple-time Lumpinee Stadium champion picked Imran apart with stiff jabs and thunderous leg kicks. Dejdamrong turned the intensity up a level in the third round, dropping Imran with sharp knees before finishing things off with a ground-and-pound storm. 

Multiple-time Karate World Champion Colbey Northcutt of the United States was successful in her ONE Championship debut, edging out Indonesian athlete Putri Padmi to take home a hard-earned unanimous decision. Northcutt came close to ending the bout in the opening round, locking in submission attempt after submission attempt, but Padmi showed tremendous heart by surviving each one. Northcutt went on to dominate the bout the rest of the way, putting on a striking clinic to coast to a decision win after three rounds of action. 

Former ONE Strawweight World Champion Alex “Little Rock” Silva of Brazil overcame a game effort from China’s Peng Xue Wen, winning by submission in the second round. Silva had difficulty getting past Peng’s wrestling in the early going, and was getting tagged on the feet. In the second round however, Silva’s grappling began to take over. It wasn’t long before the Brazilian was able to take full mount and secure an armbar to force the tap.

Thailand’s Petchmorakot Petchyindee Academy returned to action on a high note, stopping England’s Charlie “Boy” Peters. Petchmorakot dropped Peters with a clean hit in the second, but the latter survived and made it back up to his feet. The end was not far however, as Petchmorakot put the finishing touches with a series of powerful knees to send Peters again to the canvas.

Vietnam’s Nguyen Tran Duy Nhat continued his impressive run in the ONE Championship ring, turning in a dominant performance over Japan’s Yuta Watanabe. Nguyen came out to a blistering start, as he knocked Watanabe down twice in the first round. Just moments into the second, Nguyen connected on a head kick that ended matters instantly as he scored a highlight reel knockout.

Japanese bantamweight contender Shuya “Stealth” Kamikubo spoiled the highly-anticipated return of Brazil’s Bruno “Puccibull” Pucci. Although Pucci had a strong first round with various submission attempts, Kamikubo turned to his wrestling from the beginning of the second round. The Japanese warrior never looked back, and dominated the rest of the way en route to a unanimous decision.

Kicking off the action at ONE: EDGE OF GREATNESS were ONE Super Series featherweight contenders Liam Nolan and Brown Pinas. The two locked horns in a fiery Muay Thai contest that went right down to the wire. Nolan started the bout on the offensive, but Pinas came alive in the second. In the end however, all three judges scored the bout in favor of Nolan to win by unanimous decision.

Official results for ONE: EDGE OF GREATNESS
ONE Bantamweight Muay Thai World Championship: Nong-O Gaiyanghadao defeats Saemapetch Fairtex by Knockout (KO) at 1:46 minutes of round 4
Mixed Martial Arts Lightweight: Amir Khan defeats Ev Ting by Split Decision (SD) after 3 rounds
Mixed Martial Arts Catchweight (68.5 kg): Troy Worthen defeats Chen Lei by TKO (Strikes) at 4:56 minutes of round 2
Mixed Martial Arts Catchweight (81.0 kg): Rahul Raju defeats Furqan Cheema by Submission (Rear Naked Choke) at 3:00 minutes of round 2
Mixed Martial Arts Strawweight: Dejdamrong Sor Amnuaysirichoke defeats Muhammad Imran by TKO (Strikes) at 1:21 minutes of round 3
Mixed Martial Arts Flyweight: Colbey Northcutt defeats Putri Padmi by Unanimous Decision (UD) after 3 rounds
Mixed Martial Arts Strawweight: Alex Silva defeats Peng Xue Wen by Submission (Armbar) at 4:45 minutes of round 2
Muay Thai Featherweight: Petchmorakot Petchyindee Academy defeats Charlie Peters by Knockout (KO) at 1:48 minutes of round 2
Muay Thai Flyweight: Nguyen Tran Duy Nhat defeats Yuta Watanabe by Knockout (KO) at 0:30 minutes of round 2
Mixed Martial Arts Bantamweight: Shuya Kamikubo defeats Bruno Pucci by Unanimous Decision (UD) after 3 rounds
Muay Thai Featherweight: Liam Nolan defeats Brown Pinas by Unanimous Decision (UD) after 3 rounds

by Abhishek Shukla

One Championship: Rahul Raju to fight Furqan Cheema in ONE: EDGE OF GREATNESS

22 November 2019 – Singapore: The largest global sports media property in Asian history, ONE Championship™ (ONE), has just released the official ONE: EDGE OF GREATNESS Final Weight and Hydration Results.

Complete ONE: EDGE OF GREATNESS  Final Weight and Hydration Results

MAIN CARD

ONE Bantamweight Muay Thai World Championship (61.3 KG – 65.8 KG): 
Nong-O Gaiyanghadao (65.8 kg, 1.0248) vs. Saemapetch Fairtex (65.2 kg, 1.0074)

Mixed Martial Arts Lightweight (70.4 KG – 77.1 KG):
Amir Khan (77.05 kg, 1.0074)  vs. Ev Ting (77.1 kg, 1.0053)

Muay Thai Catchweight (68.5 KG):
Troy Worthen (65.35 kg, 1.012)  vs. Chen Lei (68.45 kg, 1.0049)

Mixed Martial Arts Lightweight (70.4 KG – 77.1 KG):
Rahul Raju (78.85 kg, 1.000)  vs. Furqan Cheema (80.95 kg, 1.0132)

Mixed Martial Arts Strawweight (52.3 KG – 56.7 KG): 
Dejdamrong Sor Amnuaysirichoke (56.7 kg, 1.0168) vs. Muhammad Imran (56.7 kg, 1.0124)

Mixed Martial Arts Flyweight (56.8 KG – 61.2 KG): 
Colbey Northcutt (60.6 kg, 1.0074) vs. Putri Padmi (59.85 kg, 1.0036)

Mixed Martial Arts Strawweight (52.3 KG – 56.7 KG): 
Alex Silva (56.65 kg, 1.0044) vs. Peng Xue Wen (56.7 kg, 1.0187)

 
PRELIMINARY CARD

Muay Thai Featherweight (65.9 KG – 70.3 KG): 
Petchmorakot Petchyindee Academy (70.3 kg, 1.0057) vs. Charlie Peters (69.75 kg, 1.0066) 

Muay Thai Flyweight (56.8 KG – 61.2 KG): 
Nguyen Tran Duy Nhat (60.85 kg, 1.0199) vs. Yuta Wantanabe (60.7 kg, 1.0099)

Mixed Martial Arts Bantamweight (61.3 KG – 65.8 KG): 
Bruno Pucci (65.7 kg, 1.0222) vs. Shuya Kamikubo (65.45 kg, 1.0023)

Muay Thai Featherweight (65.9 KG – 70.3 KG): 
Brown Pinas (69.9 kg, 1.0066) vs. Liam Nolan (70.05 kg, 1.016) 
*Hydration values less than or equal to 1.0250 earn a passing mark, while values greater than or equal to 1.0251 earn a failing mark. Athletes who failed weight and hydration tests on Day 1 or Day 2 are given another chance to clear tests on the morning of the event.